Judge Withholds Approval of Charges Against Don Lemon

A federal magistrate judge has declined to approve criminal charges sought against Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, in connection with a protest that disrupted a church service in St. Paul over the weekend, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The episode stems from a demonstration at Cities Church, where protesters briefly interrupted services after learning that a pastor there also serves as an acting field director for a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement office. Lemon attended the protest and broadcast from the scene; videos of the disruption circulated widely online.

Multiple outlets reported that the magistrate judge’s refusal angered Pam Bondi, a prominent Trump ally. Bondi does not hold a federal prosecutorial role, and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the judge’s decision or next steps.

Lemon’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, said his client’s actions were protected by the First Amendment. In a statement, Lowell said Lemon was engaged in routine newsgathering and reporting—work he has performed for decades—and warned that any effort to pursue charges would raise serious concerns about press freedom. He said Lemon would contest any charges vigorously.

Under federal procedure, prosecutors typically present a complaint to a magistrate judge to determine whether probable cause exists to initiate a case, with a grand jury then required to return an indictment within a set period. Andrew Tessman, a former federal prosecutor, described a magistrate judge’s refusal to approve charges as “extremely rare,” adding that such a decision can signal skepticism that may also be shared by a grand jury.

There are alternative paths the government could pursue if it wished to continue, Tessman noted, but the initial setback is not encouraging for prosecutors.

Donald Trump criticized Lemon earlier this week, condemning the disruption of the church service and praising the pastor’s response. Separately, Bondi announced that two protesters connected to the incident had been arrested, writing on social media that attacks on places of worship would not be tolerated.

No charges have been approved against Lemon, and the matter remains unresolved.